Music lovers and band supporters are invited to line the streets from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, as That Wylie Band marches a five-mile parade route to raise funds for the year’s expenses.

The March-a-thon, which has become an annual fundraising event, will begin at Groves Elementary, 1100 McCreary Rd. The band will march through the residential area, then the student musicians will be bused to the Albertsons parking lot on FM 544 and Westgate; they will march through Albertsons and Home Depot and perform a mini-concert in the parking lot shared by the two stores.

TWB will perform the Wylie High School fight song and football stand tunes. Although this year’s competition show, “Blueprint,” is currently in rehearsal, its heavy pit-percussion emphasis doesn’t lend itself to the parade format of the March-a-thon.

According to information provided by the band, the school district has grown and so has the band. Band funding, however, has decreased; contributions are needed to supplement the budget, providing funding for scholarships for graduating seniors, summer band camp scholarships and instructors, and bottled water and Gatorade for marching season.

Also, the schools whose students will go to WHS will receive part of the March-a-thon proceeds for their band programs. Draper Intermediate and Cooper Junior High feed Wylie HS, and Harrison Intermediate and Burnett Junior High students go to Wylie East. According to Fine Arts Director Mike Lipe, the band boosters for both schools met and decided that, since Davis Intermediate and McMillan Junior High are split feeders, TWB’s boosters support McMillan and East’s support Davis.

There are various ways to donate. Visit the website thatwylieband.net/Marchathon.html to pay by credit card or PayPal; contact any band member or parent to sponsor a student; or contact Jean Ann Jacobs, booster club involvement coordinator, at jajacobs3@verizon.net to donate any amount. “Even $5 would help,” Jacobs said.

Signs advertising the March-a-thon and designating the route will be posted in the days before the event. “While marching through the residential streets, we will stop to perform for families who contribute a significant amount to the program,” band materials say.

Todd Dixon, head band director, said the event is important for many reasons. “The March-a-thon is not only a great fundraising event but also a fun way to kick off the marching season,” he said. “Since this is our third year, we know that it is an excellent way to involve families, friends and community in our program.

“The March-a-thon not only helps the band with much-needed funds, but also lets the kids and families really enjoy the program and share with the community,” Dixon said.

In addition to Jacobs, TWB Band Booster officers are Roy Harrington, president; Mark Durbin, vice president, webmaster and March-a-Thon organizer; and Laura Durbin, concessions volunteer coordinator and chaperone coordinator. 

Band faculty members are Dixon, Tim Andersen, Russell Ratterree and Ryan Drakes.

Drum majors are Allison Bryant, Marshal McClure, Macs Reynolds and Corbin Williams. Band president is Priscilla Patterson, and first lieutenant is Cloe Talamini.

For more information, visit thatwylieband.net/marchathoninfo.html.

The Route
Beginning at Groves Elementary, 1100 McCreary Rd., at the corner of Riverway Lane and McCreary Road, Cross Riverway; south onto Appalachian, left on Brookside to Riverway, right to Springwell Parkway, right to Claybrook, left to North Riverhead, right to Admiral, right, cross Springwell Parkway onto West Spirea left on Hydrandea, left on West Hibuscus, right on West Mahonia, right on Catalpa, left on Goldenrain, left on Lombardy, right to Springwell, right to Lochwood, left on Madien, left on Lakehurst, right on Lagoon, left onto Lakefield right to Cobblestone, left on Charleston, right on Hillside, left on Trenton Drive, left on 5266 Marshall Lane, right on 5266, left on Sequoia, right on Wooded Creek, right on Hunters Way, left on Preston, right on Wood Creek, right on Abby, left on Tyler Trail, left on Ryan, right on Wooded Creek, left on Riverway to Groves Elementary.